A TCA is an instance of noncompliance with statutory, regulatory, or administrative requirements. There is no expectation for TCAs to affect the disability determination or the period of disability, but non-compliant policy case actions must be corrected. TCAs are:

• •

  Identified during the review process, but not covered by the formal group I or group II deficiency definitions; or

• •

  Identified in a non-sample case, regardless of whether the group I or group II deficiency definitions cover the incorrect action.

A substantive TCA alters some element related to the conclusion in the case. Substantive TCAs include the regulation basis code TCA and incorrect actions in a non-sample case where the group I or group II deficiency definitions cover the incorrect action.

See GN 04440.231 for definitions, handling, and correction of substantive TCAs.

A non-substantive TCA does not have an impact on the conclusion of the determination.

Types of non-substantive TCAs include, but are not limited to:

• •

  12-month medical evidence of record (MER)

• •

  Diary entry

• •

  Medical or vocational documentation

• •

  Notice

• •

  Determination form

• •

  Medical assessment form

• •

  Un-imaged disability determination explanation (DDE)

• •

  Mental impairment case

• •

  Unsigned consultative exam (CE)

• •

  Capability development

See GN 04440.232 for definitions, handling, and correction of non-substantive TCAs.

Regardless of whether the TCA is substantive or non-substantive, both types MUST be corrected.